The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy - Saving Lives by Fighting Infection
Resources for students and junior practitioners Top-tips and revision resources Click the subject title to expand content
Infection occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria cause damage to body tissue. Infection can cause harm to a patient and may require treatment with antibiotics. Bacteria can grow on exposed body sites without causing infection, this is called colonisation. Colonisation is a normal process that begins when we are born and does not usually cause harm to a patient.
It is important to be aware of the different organisms that colonise different parts of the body to be able to predict what pathogens might be causing infection, and which empirical antibiotics to start if a patient presents with an active infection. For example, Staphylococcus aureus is a skin commensal (part of the skin microbiota) that can cause an infection when the skin barrier is broken.
The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy - Saving Lives by Fighting Infection